name | Beenie Man |
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background | solo_singer |
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birth name | Anthony Moses Davis |
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alias | Ras Moses, The Doctor, The Girls Dem Sugar, Henry Morgan |
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birth date | August 22, 1973 |
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origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
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genre | Reggae, dancehall, reggae fusion, ragga-soca |
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occupation | Musician, songwriter, deejay, producer |
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years active | late 1970s–present |
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label | BrooklandUniversal RepublicIsland Jamaica/PolyGram RecordsVirgin/EMI Records |
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associated acts | Don Omar, Snow (musician), Talib Kweli, Memphis Bleek, YoungBloodZ, Pastor Troy, Johnny J , T.I. |
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website | www.beeniemanmusic.com
}} |
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Anthony Moses Davis (August 22, 1973), better known by his stage name Beenie Man, is a Grammy award winning Jamaican reggae artist. He is the self-proclaimed "King of the Dancehall".
Biography
Davis was born in the
Waterhouse district of Kingston in 1973. He was involved in the music industry from a young age, starting toasting at the age of five, and was encouraged by his uncle Sydney Wolfe, who played drums for
Jimmy Cliff. He won the Tastee Talent contest in 1981, and Radio DJ Barry G introduced him to local
sound system operators, who helped to establish the popularity of the young deejay, who became known as Beenie Man. He recorded his debut single, "Too Fancy", with
record producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes in 1981, with Lawes also including him on the 1983 album ''Junjo Presents Two Big Sounds'' alongside established stars such as
Dillinger,
Fathead, and
Ringo. His debut album, ''The Invincible Beenie Man: The Ten Year Old DJ Wonder'' was produced by
Bunny Lee and released in 1983, his first hit single following the same year with the
Winston Holness-produced "Over the Sea". In 1984 Beenie Man recorded some material with
Barrington Levy (released ten years later), but his music career was put on hold while he finished school, and spent time travelling to the
United Kingdom,
United States, and
Canada.
1990s return
Beenie Man continued performing and honed his craft beside the then dominant dancehall figures including
Ninjaman,
Admiral Bailey and
Shabba Ranks. He found his artistic home at the Shocking Vibes studio where he continued to record singles with only moderate success in the early 1990s. His career gained momentum after a performance at the ''
Reggae Sunsplash'' festival in 1992, and a rivalry with
Bounty Killer began the following year after Beenie Man was accused of stealing Bounty Killer's style and catch phrases. The rivalry was captured on the 1994 album ''Guns Out'', with the two artists settling the feud with a soundclash. Beenie Man had his first number one single in Jamaica in 1993 with "Matie", and he won the DJ of the Year Award the same year, the first of eight consecutive awards.
International stardom
Partially as a result of prodding from his producers,
Sly and Robbie, with whom he recorded
cover versions of
Bob Marley's "Crazy Baldhead" and "No Woman No Cry" in 1994, the latter a Jamaican chart-topper, Beenie Man converted to the
Rastafari movement, as did several of his contemporaries at the time, although in 2005 he stated "I have not converted. I was baptised an Ethiopian Orthodox and at the age of 10 I became a Judah Coptic." In 1994, he was signed by
Island Records and released the critically acclaimed album ''
Blessed'', which established his reputation internationally. In 1995 he toured the UK and joined up again with Barrington Levy to record an updated
jungle version of Levy's "Under Mi Sensi".
In 1995, Beenie Man collaborated with Dennis Brown and Triston Palmer to release ''Three Against War'' and Mad Cobra and Lieutenant Stitchie on ''Mad Cobra Meets Lt. Stitchie & Beenie Man''. He also collaborated with Lady Saw on "Healing", Sanchez on "Refugee", and Michael Prophet on "Gun 'n' Bass", further establishing his reputation. He took another step up the ladder in 1996, releasing the seminal ''Maestro'', produced by Patrick Roberts and shot him to UK fame. During the period from the mid to late 1990s, Beenie Man dominated the Jamaican charts to the extent that he perhaps had a good claim to the crown of "Dancehall King", a title only bestowed previously on Yellowman in the early 1980s.
Beenie Man's first real break into the United States came in 1997. He heard an instrumental rhythm by an unknown producer named Jeremy Harding, and demanded to add his voice to the rhythm. So this was the birth of his first international hit; he recorded "Who Am I" and the single quickly went Gold. It opened the doors for the world to see a new reggae star in the pages of Newsweek and other major media outlets. The same year, Beenie Man topped the Jamaican singles chart with seven different singles.
Beenie Man appeared as himself in the 1997 film ''Dancehall Queen''.
In 1998, Beenie Man headlined ''Reggae Sunsplash'' and signed to Virgin Records to release albums in the United States. His first American offering was ''The Doctor'' (1998). During the late 1990s, Beenie Man began his conquest of America with the hits, "Romie", "Who Am I", and "Girls Dem Sugar", which featured American R&B; singer, Mýa. During this time he received an impressive number of international music awards including a MOBO Award for Best International Reggae Act in 1998, while remaining at the top of the local charts. In 2000, Beenie Man released ''Art & Life'', which featured Arturo Sandoval and Wyclef Jean (The Fugees), for which received a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. In the same year he co-produced (with Wyclef Jean) the debut album by actor Steven Seagal. Beenie Man, like many dancehall artists is outspoken on a number of social issues, as exemplified by songs such as "Steve Biko" and "Murderer".
In 2002, he had a sizeable hit with a duet with Janet Jackson called "Feel It Boy", but his biggest break in America came in early 2004 with the release of a remix of "Dude", featuring guest vocals by fellow Jamaican Ms. Thing, as well as rhymes by Shawnna. He thus cemented his fan base on both sides of the Atlantic.
He had hits in the UK in 1998 with "Who am I" (#10), in 2003 with "Street Life" (#13) and "Feel It Boy" (UK #9), a duet with Janet Jackson, and in 2004 with "Dude" (#7) and "King of the Dancehall" (#14).
He was also a judge for the 6th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.
In April 2008 it was announced that Beenie Man was to co-write and star in the film ''Kingston''.
In October 2010 Beenie Man came out with the EP "I'm Drinking Rum and Red Bull", which included 4 songs, "Im drinking Rum and Red Bull", "I'm Okay", and two versions of "Stack and Pile". He later relaased the full album on February 28, 2011. "Im Drinking Rum and Red Bull" features Future Fambo.
In September 2008 Beenie Man was cleared of charges of tax evasion.
In April 2009, Beenie Man signed with Brookland Entertainment, a new record label formed by Eric Nicks and The Trackmasters, in preparation to release his new album, "The Legend Returns". The music video for the release of his new single “Gimme Gimme” will be shot in Canada on April 18, 2009.
Personal life
Beenie Man married Michelle "D'Angel" Downer on August 22, 2006. Downer was previously known as long-time girlfriend to Bounty Killer. They have a son together, Marco Dean, born in November 2006. In June 2007, Beenie Man separated from his wife due to her alleged infidelity. In March 2010, they released a duet single titled "You Are My First", although at the time they were separated.
The couple divorced in 2011.
Lyrical controversy
The lyrics to some of his songs have been criticized for inciting the murder of
homosexuals. He was removed from the 2004
MTV Video Music Awards after protests by gay-rights activists. That same year, Beenie Man was stopped by police at
Heathrow Airport in London, after the cancellation of a concert in England. He then issued an apology for the lyrics through his record company. In 2005, gay rights group
OutRage! suspended their opposition to Beenie Man after he agreed not to play songs featuring homophobic lyrics, and he performed in London that year. The following year, he claimed his lyrics were anti-
pedophilia, not against consensual homosexual relationships.
In 2007, it was reported that Beenie Man, along with several other artists, had signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, an agreement to cease performances of anti-gay material. He later denied that he had signed the act.
As of 2010, protests have continued to cause cancellations of his concerts in some countries, including New Zealand, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
1983: ''The Invincible Beenie Man: The Incredible Ten Year Old DJ Wonder'' - Bunny Lee
1992: ''Cool Cool Rider'' - VP
1994: ''Dis Unu Fi Hear'' - High Tone
1994: ''Defend It'' VP
1994: ''Guns Out'' with Bounty Killer - Greensleeves
1995: ''Blessed'' - Island
1995: ''Maestro'' - Greensleeves & VP
1995: ''Mad Cobra Meets Lt. Stitchie & Beenie Man'' - VP
1997: ''Many Moods Of Moses'' - VP
1999: ''Y2K'' - Artists Only
1999: ''Ruff n Tuff''
1999: ''The Doctor'' - VP
2000: ''Art and Life'' - Virgin
2001: ''Black Liberty''
2001: ''Youth Quake''
2002: ''Tropical Storm''
2004: ''Back to Basics''
2006: ''Concept of Life''
2006: ''Hundred Dollar Bag''
2006: ''Undisputed''
2007: ''Monsters of Dancehall''
2009: ''The Legend Returns''
2012: ''TBA''
Compilations
1995: ''All the Best''
2000: ''Best of Beenie Man''
2002: ''Gold - The Very Best of'' - Charm
2005: ''Kingston to King of the Dancehall''
2005: ''Greatest Hits So Far''
Live albums
2004: ''Live in San Francisco''
Mixtapes and unofficial releases
2000: ''Trendsetter''
2004: ''Cool Cool Rider - The Roots of a Dancehall Don''
2006: ''Its Ah! Beenie (riddim mixtape)''
2007: ''Monsters of Dancehall''
Singles
1981: "Too Fancy"
1983: "Over the Sea"
1993: "Matie" (PROD by Dave and Donovan Mills and Efraim Barrett on the Shelly Power label)
1995: "Slam"
1995: "Romie"
1995: "Old Dog"
1995: "Healing" (with Lady Saw)
1997: "Dancehall Queen" (with Chevelle Franklin)
1998: "Who Am I (Sim Simma)"
1998: "Tell Me"
2000: "Jungle Boogie" (featuring Sly and Robbie)
2000: "Love Me Now" (featuring Wyclef Jean)
2000: "Girls Dem Sugar" (featuring Mýa)
2002: "Fresh from Yard" (featuring Lil' Kim)
2002: "Feel It Boy" (featuring Janet Jackson)
2002: "Red Red Red" (with Robyn)
2003: "Street Life" (featuring Assia)
2003: "Bossman" (featuring Sean Paul and Lady Saw)
2004: "Dude" (featuring Ms. Thing and Shawnna)
2004: "King of the Dancehall"
2005: "Specialists" (featuring Vybz Kartel)
2006: "Girls" (featuring Akon)
2006: "Hmm Hmm"
2006: "Dreaming of You" (featuring Alaine)
2007: "Give It Up" (featuring Barbee)
2008: "Wine Gyal"
2008: "Pickney Nah Hold Yah Dung"
2008: "Gimme Gimme"
2010: "I'm Drinking/Rum & Red Bull"
Featured singles
1996: "Sound Clash" (Dream Warriors featuring Beenie Man)
1996: "Hands In the Air" (Doug E. Fresh featuring Beenie Man)
1999: "Outa Space (UFOs)" (Machel Montano featuring Beenie Man); album Any Minute Now
2000: "Money" (Jamelia featuring Beenie Man)
2001: "I'm Serious" (T.I. featuring Beenie Man)
2004: "Compton" (Guerilla Black featuring Beenie Man)
2005: "Soul on Fire" (KMC featuring Beenie Man)
2006: "Belly Danza" (Don Omar featuring Beenie Man)
2006: "Zingy" (Ak'Sent featuring Beenie Man)
2006: "Flow Natural" (Tito El Bambino featuring Deevani and Beenie Man)
2006: "Heaven Baby" (Brooke Hogan featuring Beenie Man)
2007: "Back It Up"
2008: "Better than Dem" (Natasja featuring Beenie Man)
2008: "Scorpion" (Nisha B. featuring Beenie Man)
2008: "Burnin' Burnin" (Ms. Triniti featuring Beenie Man)
2009: "Get It On" (Rasun featuring Beenie Man)
2009: "Giggle" (Busta Rhymes featuring Beenie Man)
2009: "Woman"
2009: "International" (Chali 2na featuring Beenie Man)
2009: "Pleasure" (2G featuring Beenie Man and Chris S)
2012: "Gun Shot" (Nicki Minaj featuring Beenie Man)
Notes
References
Further reading
Wray, Milton: ''Who Am I?: The Untold Story of Beenie Man'', 2008, Great House/Omnimedia, Kingston, Jamaica, ISBN 978-9769519930
External links
Official website
Category:1973 births
Category:People from Kingston, Jamaica
Category:Virgin Records artists
Category:Island Records artists
Category:Dancehall musicians
Category:Reggae fusion artists
Category:Grammy Award winners
Category:Jamaican reggae musicians
Category:Living people
Category:Sony/ATV Music Publishing artists
Category:Pseudonymous musicians
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